We walked in companionable silence, stepping barefoot through the cool frills, until we arrived at the low tree branch stretching out across the sand where we ate our lunch that day. He nodded towards it. ‘We can sit here for a while in the shade.’
I did so and he lowered himself beside me beside me, grinning. ‘I think it dips nearly as much for you as for Noah.’
I punched his arm, softly, laughing. ‘Why, how terribly ungallant of you, Sir.’ I looked down at myself. ‘Admittedly, I’m considerably larger than I was with Penny. Though I was sick for much of the time with her, now I just eat.’
‘I was teasing, Sukie. You look very beautiful.’ He stroked my face. ‘You should have let me go with them. You need Raphael with you.’
‘Has he told you about Valentina Gentileschi?’
He shook his hea
